I love how the trees glow with the setting sun in autumn.
Blogs
Question of the Day- November 4, 2025
Open common partridge pea seed pods, or left- and right-handed DNA helices?
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? November 2025
Do any flowers start to bloom in November? Not really. You might have a fall-blooming camellia in your yard that might start blooming in November. Some flowers bloom all year, like dandelions and henbit. November is still an exciting time! We are quickly approaching our peak foliage color as I type this on October 31st.… Continue reading What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? November 2025
Marbled Orb-Weaver
Here is a male marbled orb-weaver (Araneus marmoreus var. marmoreus) to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Goldenrod Identification
During the late summer and early fall, you can find goldenrod (Solidago sp.) everywhere. There are dozens of types of goldenrods that grow in the piedmont of North Carolina. I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to find and properly identify as many species as I can. Unless otherwise noted, all of these plants can… Continue reading Goldenrod Identification
Field Report- October 24, 2025
What’s happening on the trails at the end of October? The bright yellow blooms of goldenrod, ditch-daisies and sunflowers are fading away. The white of the small white asters and consumption weed are on full display. It seems like the purple asters were out for only week before they died back. The leaves on the… Continue reading Field Report- October 24, 2025
Beaver Dam at Bond Park
Have you seen the beaver dam at Bond Park? This is a stream at the south end of Bond Lake, where the Lake Trail and Oxxford Hunt Greenway intersect. It’s amazing what a couple of beavers can do!
What Is This Shiny Mushroom?
Have you seen any interesting mushrooms lately? I found this one on the side of Town Hall Drive. I don’t think I’ve seen this type of mushroom before. This is Ganoderma sessile (it doesn’t have a common name). The reddish-brown middle was so shiny! I wonder if the mushroom was sticky when it first started… Continue reading What Is This Shiny Mushroom?
Sleeping Bees
On these cool fall mornings, you might find a bee sleeping on a flower. Colder temperatures make it harder for bees to move around. In fact, the temperature has to be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for carpenter bees to be active. They find shelter and protection in the flowers until the temperature warms up. I… Continue reading Sleeping Bees
Henbit With Flowers in October
I was surprised to see a henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) with flowers on the American Tobbacco Trail yesterday. Henbit flowers all year, but it is seen most often in the early spring.